Denver businesses can begin reopening Saturday under the state’s “safer at home” order, Mayor Michael Hancock said Tuesday.
Retailers, offices and personal services such as hair salons can open with occupancy and social distancing restrictions after Denver’s stay-at-home order expires Friday, Hancock said.
City officials have been preparing to lift the stay-at-home order in recent days and it appears likely Adams and Arapahoe counties will follow suit. Much of the rest of Colorado began transitioning from “stay at home” under Gov. Jared Polis’ “safer at home” order on April 27.
Starting Saturday, shops and salons in Denver must allow for at least 6 feet of space between customers and allow no more than 10 people inside at all times or operate at half capacity, whichever is fewer, Hancock said.
Office can open with 50% staffing but must ensure employees are at least 6 feet apart, Hancock said.
“If you’re a business or an office that can reopen but can still operate with your employees working from home, we strongly encourage you to do that,” Hancock said.
Personal services and other businesses such as optometrists and chiropractic clinics must operate by appointment only, Hancock said.
Gatherings of more than 10 people will continued to be prohibited through May 26, he said. Restaurants and bars, movie theaters, stadiums and fitness centers must remain closed.
It’s still not clear when those businesses will be allowed to reopen, Hancock said.
“Just know this is a journey. It’s going to be a marathon, not a sprint,” he said.
Libraries, recreation centers and playgrounds will also remain closed, Hancock said.
Everyone older than 3 years old must wear face masks in public places and reopening businesses are asked to ensure that customers are following that requirement, Hancock said.
Meanwhile, Denver will continue to step up coronavirus testing and contact tracing.
“We are in a good place right now to take the next step,” Bob McDonald, the city’s health director, said Tuesday.
The city is training 45 people to trace contacts, McDonald said, and the goal is to hire a total of 100. As that effort ramps up, restrictions can wind down.
In addition, the city and its partners have the capacity to test about 4,000 people a day, though they’re currently testing about 1,000 a day, McDonald said.
The number of tests performed daily is expected to increase and mobile testing vehicles will soon be sent around town for those who can’t go to a testing site, said Dr. Connie Price, Denver Health’s chief medical officer.
The number of coronavirus cases has risen, McDonald said, but that’s a consequence of Denver increasing its testing. The other metrics officials examine include hospitalization numbers and the availability of hospital beds and medical supplies.
McDonald said his team will stay vigilant in case the rules must once more be tightened.
“If we see cases going up, spiking, five days in a row, that’s an alarm for us,” he said.
Matt Mueller, director of Denver’s office of emergency management, said the city has secured more protective gear in recent weeks, including gloves, masks and gowns. That stockpile must be built further in case of a resurgence of the virus later this year, he said.
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Denver businesses can begin reopening Saturday following state guidelines - The Know
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